Ashoka
❖Botanical name- Saraca asoca
❖Family - Fabaceae
❖Synonyms - Hempushpa, tamar pallava, ashoghama.
❖Morphology-
(A) .General- Medium-sized evergreen tree with fragrant flowers.
(B).Bark- The bark is rough and uneven, and can be dark brown,
grey, or almost black. The bark on older stems can be dark green, with
patches of lichens. -
(C).Leaves: The leaves are paripinnate, meaning they have multiple
leaflets on a single stem. The leaves are 15–20 cm long, with 6–12 leaflets.
The leaflets are oblong or oblong-lanceolate, and are glabrous
(D).Flowers-The flowers are yellow when young, then turn orange,
and finally crimson as they age. The flowers are axillary, sessile, and
corymbose.
(E).Flowering season- February to April
(F).Fruits-The fruit is a black, flat, leathery pod that measures
10–25 cm by 3.5–5 cm. The pod contains 4–8 seeds, which are
ellipsoid-oblong and compressed.
(G).Fruiting season- March to July.
(A) (B) (C)
(D) (F)
❖Chemical Composition - Haematoxylin, Volatile oil, Ketosteril,
Saponin.
❖ Rasa- Panchaka- Rasa- Kashaya, Tikta
Guna- Laghu, ruksha
Veerya- Sheeta
Vipaka- Katu
❖Dosh-karma-Kapha-pitta shamaka
❖Karma- Pittahara Hrdya
Varnya Grãhi
❖Prayoga- Gulma Udavartha
Apaci Trisnã
Dãha Krimi
Visaroga Hridaroga
Rakta Pradara Asmari
❖Prayoja Anga- Bark, Seed, Flower
❖Dose- Beej churna- 3-6gm , Pushpa churna-3-6gm ,
Tvaka-kwatha-50ml
❖Vishishta- yoga- Ashokarishta, Ashoka gharata.
❖Therapeutic uses -
1. Uterine disorders: The stem bark is used to treat uterine
complications, menstrual disorders, and other reproductive
disorders(Therapeutic Effects of Acetone Extract of Saraca
asoca Seeds on Rats with Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis via
Attenuating Inflammatory Responses)
2. Hemorrhaging: The stem bark is used to treat internal
bleeding, hemorrhoids, and hemorrhagic dysentery(Saraca
asoca: From Traditional Herb to Modern Drug as a Cure for
Various Diseases | Bentham Science)
3. Ovarian and endometrial tissue: The stem bark stimulates
the ovarian and endometrial tissue(Saraca asoca | Agriculture)
4. Fever: The stem bark is used to treat fever(Therapeutic Effects
of Acetone Extract of Saraca asoca Seeds on Rats with
Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis via Attenuating Inflammatory
Responses)
5. Pain: The plant is used to treat
pain(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S03
78874123007298#:~:text=Saraca%20
asoca%20has%20been%20 documented,%2C%20eye%20
diseases%2C%20and%20 wounds).
6. Inflammation: The plant is used to treat inflammation(Saraca
asoca | Agriculture)
7. Skin conditions: The bark is used as an astringent to treat
skin-related ailments(10 Holistic Health Benefits of the
Ashoka Tree)
8. Kidney stones: The leaves are used to treat kidney stones(10
Holistic Health Benefits of the Ashoka Tree)
9. Ashokarishta: A well-known Ayurvedic medicine made from
the ashoka tree(10 Holistic Health Benefits of the Ashoka
Tree)
10. Ashoka Ghrita: An Ayurvedic medicine made from the
ashoka tree(Activity based evaluation of a traditional
Ayurvedic medicinal plant: Saraca asoca (Roxb.) de Wilde
flowers as estrogenic agents using ovariectomized rat model -
ScienceDirect)
11. Menosan: An Ayurvedic medicine made from the ashoka
tree(Activity based evaluation of a traditional Ayurvedic
medicinal plant: Saraca asoca (Roxb.) de Wilde flowers as
estrogenic agents using ovariectomized rat model -
ScienceDirect)
